This interview Mike Redmond is getting with the Miami Marlins tonight, as our Juan C. Rodriguez reported this afternoon, is no courtesy deal.

Redmond's dugout experience may be limited to a couple of years in Class A, but the former Marlins catcher appears to be not just a viable candidate to replace Ozzie Guillen but quite possibly the leading candidate as well.

"I think it will be Redmond," an industry source closely monitoring the Marlins' opening said Wednesday via text message.

The source, who is quite familiar with the inner workings of the Marlins, called Padres special assistant Brad Ausmus a "serious candidate" as well, but added his gut feeling was that "Redmond is higher on the list at the moment."

That could change if and when Ausmus interviews. He reportedly floored the Red Sox during his interview earlier this month, but they went ahead and pried former pitching coach John Farrell away from the Blue Jays due to their greater familiarity with him.

Another source called Ausmus a "great name" for those of us trying to handicap the Marlins' search.

(UPDATE: 7:10 P.M: A source tells me Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg is on the Marlins' radar as well, but it's unclear if the Phillies would grant them permission to interview their new third-base coach.

Sandberg, 53, was promoted to the big-league staff after this season following two years as manager of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He previously spent five seasons managing in the Cubs' minor league system but was repeatedly passed over for their big-league position.

Sandberg is viewed by some as the heir apparent to Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who is entering the final year of his contract and will be 69 on Opening Day. However, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro made it clear no promises were made to Sandberg upon his promotion.

Sources say the Marlins have asked for permission to interview four to five candidates thus far, but it's unclear if all of those requests were granted. Redmond obviously was one of them.)

Redmond, 41, could yet become a candidate for the open Blue Jays' position, which also has them reportedly looking at Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr., another possible Marlins target.

It is not known if Ausmus got a chance to meet any top Marlins officials while managing Team Israel at the Marlins' Jupiter complex last month, but we do know Ausmus turned down a chance to interview with the Astros, for whom he played 10 total seasons in two different stints.

The Rockies are reportedly interested in talking with Ausmus, whom they took in the expansion draft 20 years ago this month. They also drafted current major league managers Joe Girardi and Eric Wedge on that same night, incidentally, which gives them a shot at creating a pretty unusual triple crown of sorts if they hire Ausmus.

If hired, Redmond would become the youngest active manager in the big leagues, beating out the Cardinals' Mike Matheny by seven-plus months. Yet Redmond wouldn't be the youngest skipper in Marlins' history.

Joe Girardi was a few days past his 41st birthday when he was hired in October 2005. Fredi Gonzalez, hired a year later, was 42 years and 8 months old at the time of his selection.